Joined
·
2,219 Posts
When DirecTV started, and for much of their existence, they were amazing. They were innovative, challenging cable companies, providing more value, and basically under a vision of changing the way we buy TV programming.
Some important, innovative, and fun things DirecTV did:
- More channels than any cable company, and all-digital.
- Fairly regularly adding new channels.
- More pay TV channels by far (HBO, etc.).
- Lower prices for service.
- Wide variety of hardware manufacturers, like Sony and Philips, so we could pick the features we liked.
- Tons of PPV
- Fully integrated two tuner Tivo
- SD Locals
- Broadband (at the time was cool, briefly)
I'm sure there are many others, but those jump to mind. All are focused on the consumer, and making a better experience. And they had to deal with the wiring issues making it hard for people.
Over the last couple of years, DirecTV has systematically been morphing into an old-fashioned cable company. They have stopped being innovative, and seem to actually be trying to become more like a cable company.
They've historically kept the churn low, but now they're just one of the bunch. As a result, it's just a price game now. If there's a better deal elsewhere, then jump. And their recent announcements about leasing further weaken any reason to stay with DirecTV.
There is almost no remaining innovation. The HD package is very weak. The price gap is shrinking. And there's little on the horizon. Coupled with the wiring complexities, Tivo drop, and MP4 conversion, DirecTV is less interesting for more and more people, including current DirecTV customers.
It's sad to see this happen. Hopefully someone will pick up the gauntlet (like fiber TV), or we'll just bounce around for price.
Some important, innovative, and fun things DirecTV did:
- More channels than any cable company, and all-digital.
- Fairly regularly adding new channels.
- More pay TV channels by far (HBO, etc.).
- Lower prices for service.
- Wide variety of hardware manufacturers, like Sony and Philips, so we could pick the features we liked.
- Tons of PPV
- Fully integrated two tuner Tivo
- SD Locals
- Broadband (at the time was cool, briefly)
I'm sure there are many others, but those jump to mind. All are focused on the consumer, and making a better experience. And they had to deal with the wiring issues making it hard for people.
Over the last couple of years, DirecTV has systematically been morphing into an old-fashioned cable company. They have stopped being innovative, and seem to actually be trying to become more like a cable company.
They've historically kept the churn low, but now they're just one of the bunch. As a result, it's just a price game now. If there's a better deal elsewhere, then jump. And their recent announcements about leasing further weaken any reason to stay with DirecTV.
There is almost no remaining innovation. The HD package is very weak. The price gap is shrinking. And there's little on the horizon. Coupled with the wiring complexities, Tivo drop, and MP4 conversion, DirecTV is less interesting for more and more people, including current DirecTV customers.
It's sad to see this happen. Hopefully someone will pick up the gauntlet (like fiber TV), or we'll just bounce around for price.